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Updated: Mar 23, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Food intake, oral hygiene and gingival bleeding in pregnancy: does lifestyle make a difference? A cross sectional
Balgis O Gaffar1, Maha M A El Tantawi1, Adel S AlAgl1
1Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Dammam.
Objectives:
To investigate the association between lifestyle factors (food intake, sugary snacks consumption and oral health practices) and gingival bleeding during pregnancy.
Methods:
A cross sectional exploratory study was conducted in the Maternity hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. It included pregnant Saudi women selected using a convenience sample. Information was collected concerning participants' background, oral hygiene practices and visits to dentists. They were asked about the amount of food they consumed and their use of sugary snacks. Logistic regression analysis assessed the association between lifestyle factors and gingival bleeding.
Results:
Responses were obtained from 197 women (92.1% response rate). Most women brushed their teeth but had < the recommended intake in the various food groups. Brushing was associated with lower odd of gingival bleeding (odds ratio= 0.47, 95% confidence interval= 0.23, 0.93) whereas intake of fewer servings than the recommended amounts in all food groups was associated with higher odds (odds ratio = 3.64, 95% confidence interval = 1.12, 11.82).
Conclusion:
Brushing and food intake during pregnancy are associated with gingival bleeding. Pregnant women can potentially improve their oral health by modifying their lifestyle and following healthier practices.
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